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MacDonald Stops 35 Shots for First Pro Shutout

February 27, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


Fresno, Calif. - Ryan MacDonald turned aside all 35 Cincinnati shots to record his first professional shutout, and Luke Curtin notched five points, to lead the Fresno Falcons to a 5-0 win over the Cyclones in front of 4,220 fans at Save Mart Center.

The first period saw the two out-of-conference foes go back-and-forth with quality scoring chances on both ends, and 32 combined shots. Cincinnati out-shot Fresno 17-15, but it was the Falcons taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

Fresno's power-play, coming off of a four-goal performance on Sunday at Long Beach, tallied the game's first goal 13:11 into the opening period. Curtin moved the puck to Dustin VanBallegooie at the top of the left-wing circle, and he blasted a one-timer past Dov Grumet-Morris. The assist extended Curtin's scoring streak to eight games.

The Falcons doubled their lead with another power-play goal 5:04 into the second period. Curtin gathered in an errant shot by VanBallegooie on the far post, and pushed the puck past Grumet-Morris to give Fresno a 2-0 lead.

Curtin struck again late in the period to give the Falcons a three-goal lead through 40 minutes. With the Cyclones on a power-play, John Morlang moved the puck ahead to Curtin who skated in alone on Grumet-Morris, deking him to the ice, and sliding a shot past him for his second of the night.

Curtin completed his hat trick 1:15 into the third period with his second shorthanded goal of the night, and the Falcons' league-leading 20th shorthanded tally of the season. The puck was played into the Cyclones' zone, and Grumet-Morris came out and tried to move the puck ahead, but instead, Curtin forced a steal and shot the puck into the wide-open net.

Morlang set the final with Fresno's third power-play goal of the night at 19:55 of the third period off of assists from Curtin and John Wroblewski.

The Falcons play the second game of their four-game home stand on Friday, as they host the Victoria Salmon Kings at 7:30 p.m. KSEE 24, 93.7 KISS Country, and Pizza Hut present the return of the zaniest act in all of sports, The Zooperstars. Fans can eat at any local Pizza Hut and pick up a Falcons Family Night coupon giving them up to two free tickets with the purchase of two tickets.

Tickets for all Falcons home games can be purchased at the Save Mart Center Box Office, by phone at (559) 485-8497, on-line at www.ticketmaster.com, or at any TicketMaster outlet. All Falcons' games air on 1550 and 96.1 Sporting News Radio starting with the Port of Subs Pre-Game Show 15 minutes prior to face off.

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